Uber: Revoking Uber’s London license prompts consumer backlash

Transport for London is facing accusations that its decision to revoke Uber’s license in the British capital was politically motivated rather than based on safety concerns (concerns on which the capital’s transport regulator partly based its reasoning Uber’s). Uber’s cheap and efficient transport offering is popular worldwide and has been used on a mass scale within all of London’s major areas, including the suburbs and villages that surround it. With the black cab business taking a hard hit since Uber’s formation, the decision is music to their ears and also any other taxi firms that were initially run over by Uber’s entrance.

After Uber’s arrival in 2012, it quickly grew due to various factors. One major advantage of using Uber’s services was how cost effective it was compared to other minicab firms and especially black cabs. With a very cheap option for travelers, commuters have been enjoying Uber’s services for the past five years.

Black cabs and other minicab firms however, have felt the hit with their business potential falling due to Uber’s presence. Due to this, drivers have held strong protests against Uber in London and it is now that Transport for London (TfL) has had a say in it.

Uber wins over traditional taxi firms being that it is recognized by many globally meaning that when foreign tourists and visitors visit London, they can instantly achieve travel goals easily by using Uber, a mobile app they are very much already used to.

Uber has failed to meet certain regulation criteria over the years being that it made its own set of rules when formulating the company. With much bad press for certain safety procedures, such as the vetting of its drivers, this ban could not have come at a worse time for the firm.

Uber is not the only one to blame however; it was revealed that TFL does all of the vetting for Uber drivers which does not provide a strong argument for the Mayor’s case. Some 40,000 drivers will be impacted by the ban and over 3.5 million Uber customers will have to find another form of travel until the appeal decision is made or a rival firm takes up this precious space in London.